Clans gather in Salado
Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 15 2009 05:49 AM
By Don Bolding
Killeen Daily HeraldSALADO – If the few hundred Scottish natives who settled the land around Salado in the 19th century could have attended the Gathering of the Clans this weekend, any homesickness they lived with probably would have been swept away in the constant strains of bagpipe music and the views of men in kilts in every direction.
Despite a change from its traditional location in Pace Park, due to the park's continuing recovery from flood damage, thousands of people covered the campus of the Salado Civic Center for the 48th annual Clan Gathering and Highland Games as a parade fueled only by the music of bagpipes and drums marched up the driveway for opening ceremonies at the bandstand at noon Saturday.
Activities actually started Friday with a "Wee Scots Shop," a genealogy workshop and a "finger tip supper." They resumed early Saturday with piping, drumming and Highland dance contests. The ancient dances, now just tests of skill and endurance with props, were originally magic rituals used to uncover good or evil omens.
Festivities continue today with a "church and kirking service" at 9 a.m. at the civic center, a drumming contest, pipe band contest, dance contests, athletic games and children's games, and a closing Parade of the Bands at 2:30 p.m. Booths displaying the regalia and books of the 35 to 40 clans whose American descendants have found each other dot the grounds as well as clothing, jewelry and food vendors.
At least one vendor's booth is rooted directly in Scotland. Norma Martin of Granbury, who retains a strong Scottish brogue despite living here since 1954, has been displaying silver jewelry from the Scottish mainland, the Orkney Islands and the Hebrides Islands at the fair since 1996. Many of her wares display ancient Gaelic symbols and cultural values, notably tiny swords.
"I would go to fairs in various places and see all this stuff made in Taiwan and so forth, and I wanted to show people you really can come here and find authentic things," she said.
The grand marshals of the parade were Canadian Brig. Gen. Peter Atkinson, deputy commanding general of III Corps and Fort Hood, and Killeen Fire Department Lt. Mark Munger, who said this was his first time to lead this parade.
Atkinson said, "I'm privileged to have friends in Salado who invited me to do this. I've been to events all over the United States, and I've been surprised how many fifers and drummers appear."
At the noon ceremony, led by Central Texas Area Museum president Scott Fletcher, Atkinson called for a moment of silence honoring the 13 people who died in the Fort Hood shooting before the massed bagpipers and drummers played "Scotland the Brave." The crowd was directed to face two United States flags and sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" a capella.
The grand marshals led the procession in full Scots parade dress on foot because just as it had no instruments besides bagpipes and drums, it had no motor vehicles.
The featured bagpipe band was from St. Thomas Episcopal School in Houston.
Others, containing many youth, were drawn from the clans, some of whom marched under banners with their ancestral names – Donald, Gunn, Leslie, Douglas, Blair, Henderson and others. All of them answered a roll call in the ceremony.
The event started as a museum project in 1961 as part of a program to honor all nationalities who contributed to the settling of Central Texas. The first gathering drew 40 clans and more than 1,000 registrants, not counting tourists who dropped in.
Almost a half century later, everywhere pipes and drums could be heard on the grounds, children of all ages could be seen dancing to the music.
Contact Don Bolding at
dbolding@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7557.
If you go
What: Scottish Clan Gathering and Highland Games
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today
Where: Salado Civic Center, 601 N. Main St., Salado
Admission to grounds: Adults $8, children under 12 $4.